Elon Musk moved forward the Twitter deal closure in a last-minute scheme to terminate the employment of CEO Parag Agrawal and senior management, inflicting punishment for alleged fraudulent practices and to prevent stock options from vesting.
U.S. stocks continue to decline, with the Nasdaq Composite experiencing its fourth down day, while Asian markets also fall; India's economic expansion is predicted to be a key driver of the global economy; Elon Musk is criticized for shutting off Starlink's satellite network, causing issues for Ukraine; FTX's former executive pleads guilty to campaign finance and money-transmitting crimes; and a Chinese electric vehicle maker is being hailed as a competitor to Tesla's Model 3.
Elon Musk refused a Ukrainian request to activate his Starlink satellite network in Crimea's Sevastopol port last year, fearing complicity in a "major" act of war and conflict escalation with Russia's fleet, according to a new biography.
Lawmakers on both sides need to hold Elon Musk accountable for assisting Russia by turning off a Starlink satellite to thwart a Ukrainian attack, as his close ties to Putin and his unilateral decision-making raise alarm bells about his support for war crimes inflicted by Russia on Ukraine.
State Secretary Antony Blinken said he cannot confirm Elon Musk turning off Starlink internet access during a Ukrainian attack on Russia, but emphasized the importance of Starlink for communication and defense efforts in Ukraine.
Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter led to multiple business decisions that violated the company's internal policies and likely ran afoul of a government order on data security and privacy, according to depositions from former employees published by the Justice Department in a court filing.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised Elon Musk as an "outstanding person" and businessman, following Musk's revelation that he refused a Ukrainian request to activate his Starlink satellite network in Crimea, fearing it would aid an attack on Russia's Black Sea fleet.
Elon Musk faces backlash and accusations of treason over his decision to deny Ukraine access to Starlink during their conflict with Russia.
Three Democratic senators are seeking answers from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin regarding whether Elon Musk or other commercial satellite providers restricted the Ukrainian military's access to communication networks and whether the Defense Department has the authority to intervene, following reports in Walter Isaacson's biography of Musk that he prevented the Ukrainian armed forces from using Starlink satellite communication terminals to attack Russian ships in Russian-held southern Ukraine.
Ukrainian public figures are criticizing Elon Musk for rejecting a request from the Ukrainian military to re-activate his satellite communications system, with some accusing him of being selfish, ignorant, and even an alien. The controversy has damaged Musk's image in Ukraine and led to concerns over relying on one individual for important resources like Starlink.
The Senate Committee on Armed Services is planning to investigate Elon Musk over his decision to shut off access to SpaceX's Starlink in Crimea during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, questioning the extent of Musk's control over the use of his network and the potential national security risks posed by contractors independently discontinuing services.
Elon Musk refused to allow Ukraine to use SpaceX's Starlink satellite communications to launch a surprise drone submarine attack on Russian forces in Crimea, citing concerns of a nuclear response from Russia. This decision has drawn praise from Russian President Vladimir Putin and has prompted a Senate probe into Musk's actions. Additionally, Musk is set to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss artificial intelligence. However, Musk is also facing accusations of tolerating antisemitic messages on his social media platform.
Elon Musk's SpaceX has been awarded its first confirmed contract by the Pentagon for its Starshield network, a military-specific version of its Starlink satellite internet system, with a one-year contract valued at up to $70 million.
